I am – Hercules!!
The three best new series of September are launching Sunday and Monday, so I thought today would be a good day to rank 'em.
The best hourlongs:
3) “LoneStar,” created by screenwriter Kyle Killen (the upcoming Mel Gibson-Jodie Foster feature “The Beaver”), follows a conman with two wives (“Friday Night Lights’” Adrianne Palicki and “Crash’s” Eloise Mumford) in two different Texas cities. Not sure if there’s a series in it, but the pilot is solid. Premieres Monday on Fox.
2) “The Event,” a cross between “24” and “Lost” from Nick Wauters, who scripted an episode of “Medium,” an episode of “The 4400,” an episode of “Eureka.” It stars Jason Ritter, Blair Underwood, Scott Patterson and Laura Innes. Again, I don’t know if there’s a series in it, but the pilot made certain there was no way I was going to miss episode two. Premieres directly opposite "LoneStar" Monday on NBC. Record "LoneStar," watch "The Event."
1) The best new series of September is easily “Boardwalk Empire,” a new gangster drama from the “Sopranos” team of writer-producer Terrence Winter and actor-director Steve Buscemi. Six episodes in, I rank it alongside “The Wire,” “Rome” and, yes, “The Sopranos” as one of the best things ever to emerge from HBO. Full of great actors playing enormously compelling characters. Premieres Sunday.
The worst hourlongs:
3) “Outlaw,” a legal drama starring Jimmy Smits from writer-producer John Eisendrath (who also created “My Own Worst Enemy’) about a Supreme Court justice who quits the bench to start a private practice. Absurd yet boring. Enters its regular timeslot on NBC Friday.
2) “Detroit 187,” a faux cop documentary from writer Jason Richman (“Swing Vote”) starring Michael Imperioli (“Life On Mars”), is the waft of failure that comes off a mountain of clichés. Hits ABC on Tuesday.
1) The very worst is the monstrously inept “My Generation,” another faux documentary from ABC, this one from “The Unusuals” creator Noah Hawley. It focuses on a handful of classmates 10 years after their high school graduation. It's the strongest argument that recently fired ABC entertainment chief Stephen McPherson could not have been let go a minute too soon. You can see for yourself on Thursday.
The sitcoms:
Mostly disasters. The best is CBS’ “Mike and Molly,” from the shop behind “Two and a Half Men” and “The Big Bang Theory.” For the worst you can choose between ABC’s “Better With You” (from “Joey” writer-producer Shana Goldberg-Meehan), CBS’ “Shit My Dad Says” (from “Will & Grace” masterminds David Kohan and Max Mutchnick) and NBC’s “Outsourced” (from “50 First Dates” screenwriter George Wing).
Want a second opinion? Find Maureen Ryan’s lists here.
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